THE SNP say Labour leadership hopeful Clive Lewis’s support for indyref2 shows there is no “democratic reason” why Holyrood should be denied another vote.

In his exclusive column for The National, the Labour frontbencher also said the Scottish party should be able to back a Yes vote.

SNP deputy Westminster leader Kirsty Blackman said his backing undermines Westminster arguments against a second referendum.

READ MORE: Clive Lewis: Scotland has the right to decide its own future

She said: "The SNP government has a cast-iron democratic mandate to hold an independence referendum – stronger than any mandate Boris Johnson has to impose Brexit – and the UK Government must respect that.

"It is welcome that a growing number of senior Labour figures are recognising that mandate and respecting Scotland's right to choose our own future.

"If frontbench spokespeople like Clive Lewis can respect Scotland's right to self-determination, and understand why so many people are moving to support independence, there is no democratic reason why the UK Government should attempt to block a referendum.

"While we will not all agree on independence, it is clear that Scotland's future must be in Scotland's hands – not Boris Johnson's."

READ MORE: Union leader urges Scottish Labour to reverse stance on indyref2

Lewis, Labour shadow financial secretary to the Treasury, is the latest senior Labour figure to back indyref2 since a landslide defeat for the party in the December General Election.

Labour MSPs Neil Findlay and Monica Lennon, former Labour MPs Ged Killen and Paul Sweeney as well as former Labour cabinet secretary Malcolm Chisholm have all urged the party not to block a second plebiscite.

STUC general secretary Grahame Smith and Cosla president Alison Evison have also voiced support for Scotland's right to hold an independence referendum.